Big-box shrinkage: Retailers embrace sales on a smaller scaleTIME Share While the big-box retail model is far from dead, stores such as Walmart, Best Buy, and Cabela's are realizing that the enormous, one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work for all shoppers — nor all locations. To grow, many retailers are shrinking, sometimes with smaller stores, sometimes by introducing smaller, more intimate and approachable locations within larger stores.
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New York City cardboard recycling theft ring broken up, 3 arrestedWaste & Recycling News Share A large-scale recycling theft ring in New York City has been broken up. Vincenzo Grasso, Neil Devito and John Nichols were arrested for stealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of cardboard from large New Jersey retail sites, according to a news release. The arrests were made with the help of a four-month investigation by the New York City Business Integrity Commission, a law enforcement and regulatory agency.
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Walmart unveils 100th solar installation in CaliforniaGreen Retail Decisions Share Walmart debuted its 100th solar powered store in California, exceeding the company's goal of outfitting three quarters of its store base in the state with solar panels. The San Diego store is now using rooftop solar panels to generate power, contributing to the company's broader goal of being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy. Walmart’s California partner, SolarCity, installs and supports the rooftop panels.More

Hot 100 RetailersSTORES Share Three of the hottest areas in retailing right now are groceries, the result of food price inflation and contraction among supermarket operators; trendy fashion, thanks to a nascent — if halting — recovery in consumer apparel spending; and the intersection of e-commerce and telecommunications,
mostly because this is the 21st century.More

J.Crew to open 1st Asian store in Hong KongBloomberg Share J.Crew Group Inc., the apparel retailer whose customers include U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, is planning its first Asian store in Hong Kong targeting tourists from mainland China that totaled 28 million last year. The retailer may open the Hong Kong store as early as next year and is also looking for sites in Beijing and Shanghai, Chief Executive Officer Mickey Drexler said in an interview in Hong Kong.
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Consumer confidence unexpectedly rises in JulyRetailing Today Share Consumer confidence unexpectedly rose in July as Americans were more optimistic about the short-term outlook than they were about their current conditions, according to a report released by The Conference Group, private research group. The report showed that while consumers are feeling better about the economy, they remain wary about the labor markets.More

Running man: Foot Locker chief leading rare retail turnaroundForbes Share When Ken Hicks strides into the Foot Locker under his 34th Street office in Manhattan, N.Y., he’s easy to ­ignore. Nondescript in a gray Foley's suit and black Nike shoes, he's just another guy wandering the aisles, examining the marquee — a flag of red, white and blue basketballs hung over Olympic gear. Customers pay little attention, but employees are another story. Wandering up to referee-jersey-clad salesmen, a store trademark, the company's CEO greets them by name, asking, "You good?" They are, and they should be.More

Walgreen completes initial investment in BootsReuters via Chicago Tribune Share Walgreen Co. said that it has completed its initial investment in Europe's Alliance Boots Holding Ltd., a $7 billion cash-and-stock deal that brings the largest U.S. drugstore chain outside its home country for the first time. Walgreen now has a 45 percent stake in Alliance Boots with an option to buy the rest in about three years.More

Shopping malls in Turkey become an unexpected art spaceHurriyet Daily News Share Light installations, oil on canvas works, sculptures and performance art all have a new, rather unexpected place to be showcased rather than in museums or art galleries. All of them are popping up in shopping malls. As the growing population in the cities becomes more integrated to consumer culture art has evolved into new spaces, becoming more visible through placement in shopping malls.More

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More Canadia shoppers heading south in search of dealsAldergrove Star Share Cross border shopping is on the rise, and Langley residents are among those who are taking advantage of the close proximity to the U.S. border. Many Langleyites report that they buy their gas exclusively across the line, while others do a weekly grocery shop in the U.S. to get a better price on cheese, milk and meat.More

In line and on track, Target likes 2QRetailing Today Share July same-store sales at Target increased 3.1 percent, in line with the company's guidance. Target credited an increase in average transaction size as the primary driver of a 3.1 percent same-store sales increase during the July reporting period. An increase in the number of transactions also contributed to a 3.1 percent gain that was in-line with the company's guidance for a low to mid single digit increase on top of a July 2011 increase of 4.1 percent.
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Costco 3-D: The rise of the in-store networkRetail Wire Share Coming to a warehouse club near you … The announcement that Costco has reached agreement with Premier Retail Networks to expand its in-store digital network to include a dedicated 3-D content channel is big news, but also brings up questions about in-store execution and whether or not the efforts will have an appreciable effect on consumer demand for the technology in their homes.
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Darden Restaurants surpasses water reduction goal 4 years ahead of scheduleChain Age Store Share Darden Restaurants reduced restaurant water usage by 17 percent on an aggregate basis between fiscal years 2008 and 2011, exceeding its 2015 goal of reducing water consumption in each of its restaurants by 15 percent on aggregate and is more than half way toward meeting the same goal for reducing energy consumption in its restaurants, according to the company's second annual sustainability report.More

JEMB Realty buying Daffy's out of bankruptcyCBS News Share JEMB Realty Corp.is buying Daffy's Inc., one day after the privately held off-price retailer filed for bankruptcy protection. Financial terms were not disclosed. Daffy's filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Wednesday in New York. The news follows the bankruptcy filings of rival chains Syms Corp. and its subsidiary Filene's Basement LLC in November.
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